Q: My six-year-old son doesn't have many friends at school and is very distant and unaffectionate with us. He prefers playing on his own, and putting all his toys in order. Could he be autistic, or am I just being paranoid?
A: Carol Povey, director of the Centre for Autism at the National Autistic Society, says: "Autistic children and adults see and feel the world in a different way to others, their brains are wired differently and so autistic children often react, develop and play in different ways to non-autistic children.
"While every autistic child is different and will develop in their own way, it's quite common for them to prefer playing repetitive games on their own, rather than joining in with others and trying to make friends.
"If you think your child could be on the autism spectrum, book an appointment with your GP to discuss this and the things that you've been noticing that seem different to other children of his age. It may help to write some of these down before your appointment.
"Autism is a lifelong condition, but a diagnosis can be the crucial key to unlocking the right support.
"Awareness of autism is higher than ever – over 99 per cent of people have heard of it. But autistic people and their families still tell us they don't think the public understand enough about autism. That's why the National Autistic Society is launching a major new campaign this World Autism Awareness Day (April 2), aiming to show how overwhelming the world can feel to an autistic person."
:: For more information about autism visit www.autism.org.uk
